House approves legislation addressing school bullying

April 5 , 2010

The House of Representatives voted last Tuesday to approve legislation that would require school officials to notify parents when their child is involved as either the victim or instigator of bullying.

Under an amended version of SB 250, the state Department of Education would have until January 2011 to develop an anti-bullying policy that can serve as a model for local school systems.

The policies would include age-appropriate consequences for bullying in grades K-12. Current policies deal with bullying only in grades 6-12.

The measure passed as an amendment to legislation dealing with disruptive behavior on school buses. SB 250 now goes back to the Senate for final action.

In other action last week, House members approved:

SB 206, which would require the Department of Audits and Accounts to conduct a yearly review of the financial impact of tax breaks and exemptions on the state budget and provide a report to the governor's Office of Planning and Budget for inclusion in his annual budget report. SB 206 goes back to the Senate for final approval of House changes to the bill.

SB 296, which would change the name of the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services to the Office of the State Treasurer.

SB 319, which would expand the definition of textbooks to include computer hardware and technical equipment to support the use of non-printed or digital content.

SB 341, which would require recipients of the $500 HOPE Scholarship voucher awarded to high school dropouts who obtain their GED and want to continue their studies to have lived in Georgia for at least 12 months. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.